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| We went to another Christmas market today at Gutenek castle. This one was more of a medieval, renaissance gig with a touch of Christmas. All the market folk wore medieval garb, lots of fire pits, and even a jester or two. We watched one's show for awhile (who appeared to follow the normal protocol on renaissance fair worker hygiene), but not understanding German put a damper on the understanding of what he was doing. Pretty cool place with Reagan and Avery's highlight being the pony ride. We don't usually buy much other than food. Today was pizza, pork on a stick, a "blomin' onion" (no, not Outback good), and roasted almonds. Yesterday was brats on a bun, crepes, some apple/sugar donut type thing, and roasted cashews. We'll miss these in the future. 3 down, 2 to go. 
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| Our kids with our pastor's kids and St. Nicholaus in the midevil town of Rothenburg yesterday. 
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| Sorry this has turned into a once a month posting, but we just aren't doing much exciting. Maybe December will be different. Thanksgiving was great as we had three days of meals. I think we can not eat for awhile but that wouldn't be any fun. So, enough turkey and sweet potato casserole had by all. After all, Thanksgiving is all about sweet potato casserole. We also hit our first Christmas market of the season in Nueremberg. It is probably the most famous as it is supposed to be one of the largest (= overly crowded). We'll probably hit two more this weekend. Happy Birthday Sis! So, on Saturday I loaded up the Griswalds in the old family wagon (van) and we headed to the woods for the tree (minus the snow). It took us nearly 2 hours to pick it out since we had to trek in about 3 miles (100 yards). We basically walked in circles over the couple acre plot until we found this beaut. 
We generally go long needle but their crop was kind of blah this year in that department. Of course it has to be big, so I decided to cut on the trunk a bit. Timmmmbbeerrrrrr!!! Carrying it out was somewhat laborious and Rachel did a fantastic job. 
Then we got it home. When I leaned it up against the wall outside (wrapped in mesh plastic mind you), I let out an "uh-oh" as I compared it to the height of the door. So, I cut off about 8 inches from the top and it was ready to go. We'll, we got it in and wedged it into the ceiling as you see here. It wasn't screwed in at the base, just wedged into the ceiling. I had to put a sock over the cut top to prevent staining the ceiling. I kind of liken it to "The Golden Corral". You step up to the buffet and your eyes are just a bit too big. Here, we stepped into a forest and the tree didn't look all that big, but... 
So, on Sunday, I went to our pastor's house and got a saw. Back to cutting again and I took off another 8 inches from the bottom and we moved it across the room so we'd have some living room left to maneuver around. Anyway, the girls had a blast decorating it after our few hours of trimming it down. It is still smashed into two walls and a couch because it is a bit wide, but it looks pretty darn good all decorated and stuff. 
So, tonight we made paper snowflakes to help decorate these trees here for the girls. Tomorrow will probably be santa tree topers. Rachel made a festive tree looking red velvet cake tonight. She didn't like it, so we'll see what she comes up with later in the week. It's going to be a bad month for the gut! 
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| Sorry it is a bit late on posting Halloween pictures, but we've been sick since then and we've spent a lot of time on the couch. Anyway, we had three Halloween shin-digs between last Friday and Saturday. Fun was had by all and the girls have a ton of candy. I doubt they'll get to it all before it goes stale. Before the pics, our prayers go out to the victims and families of those injured and killed at Fort Hood yesterday. A tragedy to say the least. First Up: Office Halloween Party. Needless to say, the girls were very overwhelmed. 
Following that party, we went to our church's fall festival. Theme was everyday heroes (not pictured - I "dressed up" as a paramedic which included khakis and a blue Miamisburg FF t-shirt - just chillin' at the station) 
Finally, we did Halloween on Halloween night on post. It was in the 30s and I had a fever, but it was still a good time. The girls got a bit cold, and were excited to go home for hot chocolate. Such cuties they are. 
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| Thanks to some guy named Columbus, we have a four-day weekend as I type. We thought of going away for the four days, but instead stayed closed to home and saved some dough for the Christmas season. So, on Friday, we went to Rothenburg which is a cool German town on the Romantic Road about 1.5 hours from here. It is a completely walled city, and really neat inside. We look forward to the Christmas market there in December. Here's some pics! Here we are in the town square with JP having fun while Angela snaps the pic. 
A highlight of the trip was the Crime and Punishment museum. We were very bad. 
Old School Justice: I guess back in the day, as a prosecutor, I'd be the guy in the middle with the hammer over his head about to whack the accused who has torture devices squishing his calves (the contraptions on the bottom right). Then the judge takes the confession so he can find him guilty. That would really help me reduce my caseload. Nice. (thank God that you are alive in the 21st century) 
Chastity Belts: They do exist and look at that serrated edge? I guess this is what the old school guys had to do to keep their women chaste when they left on trips. The back hole on the left belt is in the shape of a heart (with love of course). I wonder if it works like a play-doh shape maker? 
Shame Masks: For Saturday fun, people who weren't in with the local leaders got to wear a shame mask (metal contraption secured to their head) while being displayed in the town square. Some had bells so all would hear them walk around and others had whistles that made a noise with every breath. Most on display were oriented towards woman who caused problems with their mouths - this one shows her ears as she hears all rumors and the tongue because she spread gossip. Maybe we should bring this one back...? 
 
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